Wheel won't turn...rusty shoes???

CapnDavy · Post by **CapnDavy** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 4:00 pm

I drove thru some waterfilled holes on a sandy road exactly 7 days ago. Noticed the brakes had lost effectiveness on the drive home. On my return I tucked it into the garage. I don't remember if I left the parking brake set or not.
Now, 7 days later the left rear wheel will not turn. Could the shoes be rusted tight after only 7 days?
I made a burned rubber smell trying to get the car to move with my poor clutch.

I HOPE the problem is a frozen brake shoe/shoes and not something worse. Maybe a drive train issue??? I have the rear jacked up but the left rear wheel seems frozen tight. I thought about pulling the car out of the garage with a chain and another car, trying to break the shoes free, but that seems extreme. Might bend the bumper. I whacked the drum a few times with a rubber hammer to no effect.

1- How do I get the brake drum off? It seems frozen tight. I have not tried to loosen the shoes yet. I have not tried anything else. Except write this message.
2- If the problem isn't my brakes what might it be? The right rear wheel turns ok...
3- the parking brake cables seem to move ok, looking at them from the handle end, but who knows what's happening at the other end, inside the brake drum?
4- I must move this car. Help help help.

Thanks all
Spanky

Post by **Piledriver** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 4:24 pm

I got a car really cheap due to this...
The look on the sellers face when I drove away:
Priceless.

I have parked at the airport for a week and had the same issue.
(Parking brake was set) I was in PDX at the time, so there probably was water involved...

5K clutch drop usually does the trick.
Sometimes it helps to rock it gently in 1st/reverse for awhile.

DO NOT do the clutch drop trick in reverse, can bugger the trans.

Make sure to release the parking brake if set

If that doesn't work, time to get out a torch with a rosebud tip and heat things up first, wheel off...
I suppose even a 500W halogen lamp very close to the drum(wheel off) might help given time.

CapnDavy · Post by **CapnDavy** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:36 am

Piledriver wrote: 5K clutch drop usually does the trick.
Sometimes it helps to rock it gently in 1st/reverse for awhile.

DO NOT do the clutch drop trick in reverse, can bugger the trans.

I assume the 5K clutch drop trick means rev the engine up, then pop the clutch??

Post by **Piledriver** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:45 am

Yes, but NOT in reverse. May nuke the tranny.

CapnDavy · Post by **CapnDavy** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:02 pm

Thanks EVERYONE...!
I broke it free using liquid wrench, turning the left star wheel, the right one will NOT turn, and whacking the drum with a log splitter a few times, left and right.

I will be pulling the drum when my torque meister arrives from CIP1.

Tonight I will be sleeping lots better.
Thanks again